Tomato Gardening: Seeds or Plants—Which is Better?

Deciding whether to grow tomatoes from seed or from a plant can seem like an intricate choice. After all, what are your specific needs for tomatoes? Growing just a half-dozen or so plants will suffice for an entire family, while a packet of seeds can produce twenty or more. But with all that tomato production when your plants ripen simultaneously, what will you do with such a bountiful harvest?

Choosing Tomato Varieties and Planting

Tomatoes can range in size from cherry to those weighing over half a pound. Some varieties ripen early, while others later. If you aspire to grow a diverse mix, consider planting multiple varieties from seed. Each year, you can choose different ones, ensuring that you pick those which are healthy and robust.

For a balanced and practical approach, it's best to grow around six to eight plants. Two midsize varieties can form the main crop, while one variety each of cherry and a large tomato can add variety. This method allows for a more balanced and varied harvest, especially if you have different planting dates.

Benefits of Growing from Seed

Personally, I often grow most of my tomatoes from seed. Starting them indoors and using my own seeds instead of store-bought ones is not only cost-effective but also allows for greater variety. With seeds, you can try out unique and rare varieties that you won't find in stores. This means I hardly ever run out of tomatoes to can, and having canned tomatoes from two seasons ago is a testimony to my surplus.

At the end of the season, I rotate the planting area to prevent soil-borne diseases. Any rotten tomatoes are simply thrown onto the new ground, ensuring that they decompose properly. Keeping like tomatoes in a row helps with organization and harvest, and the practice of lightly turning over the soil also helps in dispersing seeds, leading to numerous volunteer plants in spring. These volunteers are eventually dug up, spaced out, and planted more deeply.

As a rule, I stick to heritage and heirloom varieties such as Amish Paste, Beefeater, Roma, Italian Plum, Cherry, and Cherokee Purples. These varieties are generally less expensive and offer more genetic diversity. Who wants to spend money every year on seeds or plants?

Comparing Initial Start-Ups

Apart from cost, there's also the factor of initial plant establishment. Unless there's a late cold snap, my seedlings often outperform those of my neighbors who spend a lot of money on already flowering plants from nurseries. The little seedlings tolerate cold better because they are closer to the ground, and the animal bedding I use often provides them with protection.

When I was more serious about gardening, I purchased plants of standard types from local nurseries. For unusual varieties, I would buy seeds and start them under grow lights in my greenhouse. This method allowed for better control over the growing environment and ensured a healthier start.